Now, if you are even casually acquainted with the goings on of our seriously talented homegrown breakers, then you also know about the Fraggle Rock crew--and you know about b-boy Fidget. Fidget's a standout dancer who not long ago demonstrated his proficiency in another of the culture's elements--dropping a debut LP, In the B-Boy Stance. Ranging from club knocks to inspirational anthems, Fidget spits out witty punch lines (cutting a vocal swath kinda similar to that of Fabolous), macks ladies, and talks shit with bravado befitting a b-boy--while still acting unafraid to showcase an introspective side. The keyboard-heavy production starts to sound the same after a while, but nonetheless this is quality material, so look for Fidget to make moves beyond the linoleum.
"It's a slumper!" That's right, Bay Area boss E-40 will indeed be bringing his million-dollar mouthpiece to Jimmy Z's in Everett on March 12. Unquestionably a much imitated and influential style titan of Cali rap, 40 still doesn't get the respect he's due; now signed to Lil Jon's BME Recordings, maybe Charlie Hustle will get his propers from all those who've been ripping off his slang for the last 10 years.
I sat on it awhile, but just pulling it out recently, I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised by Tha Designated Hitterz, the CD from South End duo Cut-Lace & Explicit. This disc covers the very well-trod topics of pimpin', ridin', and smokin' with entertaining, energetic flows and diverse beat selection (see the reggae-tinged "Caribbean Rum"). After the opening cut, an anonymous 206 hater offers his two cents, proclaiming C-L & E "weak" and "corny," and commanding his homies to "put that weed out… quit bobbin yo muthafuckin head!"--prompting me to laugh out loud at the all too familiar characterization. If you can't laugh at the evaflowin' hate in this burg, what can ya do?
Well, I dunno, but whatever ya do, avoid 50 Cent's The Massacre like the mutherfuckin' plague, unless you're a 12-year-old girl or a 45-year-old head-trauma victim… otherwise, you might really just have you an existential crisis as you reel in horror at "the current state of hiphop" (just like I did). Just breathe, okay? That's it. Don't lose perspective... It's gonna be alright.